5.1 Criticism of Benjamin Martin as based on Francis Marion.In his review of the film, critic Roger Ebert wrote, "None of it has much to do with the historical reality of the Revolutionary War". Despite receiving generally positive reviews from critics, it was harshly criticized by British critics and historians and stirred controversy in the United Kingdom due to its themes of anti-British sentiment, its fictionalized portrayal of British figures and atrocities, including killing wounded soldiers and prisoners of war, the film's main villain shooting a child in cold blood and an ahistorical scene in which a church filled with colonists is locked and burned which was controversial due to it being similar to the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre, a World War II war crime perpetrated by the Waffen-SS in June 1944. Most of the film's events occur in the Southern theater of the war. Rodat has said Martin is a composite character based on four historical men: Andrew Pickens, Francis Marion, Daniel Morgan and Thomas Sumter. The story takes place mainly in rural Berkeley County in South Carolina and depicts Benjamin Martin (Gibson), an American colonist opposed to going to war with Great Britain who, along with his adult son, (Ledger) gets swept into the Revolutionary War when his home life is disrupted and one of his sons is murdered by a cruel British officer (Isaacs). The Patriot is a 2000 American epic historical war film written by Robert Rodat, directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Mel Gibson, Chris Cooper, Heath Ledger and Jason Isaacs. The flick will appeal to Mel Gibson fans. This overlong, bloody and melodramatic motion picture was compellingly produced -along with Dean Devlin- and directed by Roland Emmerich (The Day after tomorrow, Godzilla, Independence Day, Stargate, Universal Soldier, Moon 44, Ghost Chase, Joey). As well as colorful and brilliant cinematography from Caleb Deschanel. Adding a rousing and attractive musical score from maestro John Williams, Steven Spielberg's regular. Alongside the great Mel Gibson appears the early deceased Heath Ledger and a large cast of secondaries giving sensational performances, such as : Chris Cooper, Tom Wilkinson, Joely Richardson, Tcheky Karyo, Donald Logue, Adam Baldwin, Leon Rippy, Rene Auberjonois and special mention for Jason Issacs providing a really baddie role as sadistic colonel. A violently idealist movie dealing with historical events about the Independence War, battles between Colonians and British army. The main character and central axis of the movie results to be Benjamin Martin/Mel Gibson, magnificently performed, as a bloodied veteran of the French and Indian Wars, and a few years later a pacifist, but his pacifism owes as much to pragmatism as conviction to defend and care his several children.
Revolutionary War vengeance pic with thrills, noisy action, overwhelming fights and well-played. Before there was a nation, there was a fight for freedom. Before they were legends, they were heroes. Where would you draw the line ? Before they were soldiers, they were family. What would you do if they destroyed your home, threatened your family. When Martin's idealistic soldier son Gabriel : Aussie Ledger is captured, daddy gets caught in action.
Tavington : Jason Isaacs, underlings : Adam Baldwin, and commander-in-chief : Tom Wilkinson have other ideas. He is a former guerrilla soldier who just wants to raise his family in peace. Benjamin Martin : Mel Gibson is a conscientious objector due to previous wars he suffered and he is nowadays a widower of seven children : Heath Ledger, Logan Lerman, Gregory Smith, Mika Boorem, Sky Bartusiak, Trevor Morgan. Spectacular and breathtaking film about the American Independence War dealing with an enjoyable family and the tragic events happening along the way.